Economic Development
Community Economic Development (CED)
The foundation of Community Futures across Western Canada is their belief that local decision-making is the key to enabling communities to shape their own futures and to stimulate the economy from within.
Under the guidance and expertise of Mary Ellen Heidt, Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen (CFOS) plays a strong role in community economic development in the region and throughout the Southern Interior. Complementing the roles of other area economic development organizations, CFOS identifies opportunities and seeks solutions to area economic problems. CFOS draws on a broad community perspective, delivering programming in a number of areas. Partnerships are important to CFOS, and they continue to encourage individuals or groups with ideas for partnerships.
CFOS and the North and Central Okanagan Community Futures have successfully partnered on major projects that have positively impacted the Southern Interior of British Columbia. They include the following projects:
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Okanagan Similkameen Film Commission - provided financial support and volunteer labour to establish the Okanagan Similkameen Film Commission. Today, the region has benefited from over $4.5 million in production.
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Coquihalla Information Centre - built a tourist information centre to provide information on attractions and facilities for the whole of the Okanagan Similkameen region.
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VentureBC - Funded through Industry Canada and the CFs of the Okanagan Similkameen, VentureBC is a key player in the Venture Capital Industry. The program assists young companies and entrepreneurs to broaden their funding base by attracting capital from a network of investors.
The Corporation also worked closely with the Okanagan Nation Fisheries Commission to develop the Okanagan-Similkameen-Boundary Fisheries Partnership. The Fisheries Partnership, as the delivery agent for Fisheries Renewal BC, delivered over a half million dollars in funding to fisheries-related projects in the region.
CFOS has teamed up with the tourism sector in supporting initiatives to develop agri-tourism, eco-tourism and sports tourism. The CFOS has worked with the agricultural sector driving for change in taxation and licensing for the wine industry.
Community Futures and its many community partners have been involved in numerous CED projects, including:
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facilitation of Town meetings in Princeton when the mine shut down
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building of the Oliver/Osoyoos hiking and biking path
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building the KVR walking path through the City of Penticton
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assistance to the Naramata Hotel Restoration Project
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development of training videos for the agriculture industry
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hosting small business trade shows
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assistance to the Kettle Valley Railway
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building washrooms at the Oliver pickers camp site
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assistance to the Osoyoos Desert
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coordination of the Fisheries Renewal Stewardship Partnership for Okanagan Boundary
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facilitating a value-added market matching series for value-added wood products
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administration of the Okanagan-Similkameen Boundary Partnership of the Salmonid Renewal; a Program of Fisheries Renewal BC
The CFOS is careful not to duplicate the services of our regional economic partners. We seek opportunities and work to develop ideas that will have a regional impact. We strive to develop sustainable opportunities that will improve the economy of the region, and would like to hear from individuals or groups with ideas for partnerships.
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